Wall tie and mortar trough



April 12, 1955 XANTEN 2,705,887

WALL TIE AND MORTAR TROUGH Filed Oct. 24, 1949 I: IIZIZWZZOY" 4 5% 5. 2% iZi 31/ W M W United States Patent WALL TIE AND MORTAR THOUGH Elmer F. Xanten, Rockford, Ill.

Application October 24, 1949, Serial No. 123,121

8 Claims. (Cl. 72-128) The present invention relates to a device for use in the construction of cavity walls, which are usually of masonry, and most commonly of brick. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel wall tie member so formed as to shed moisture therefrom so as to avoid rusting and corrosion, and also to serve as a spacer for the wall sections and as a support for a mortar trough, and also relates to the combination of such a trough with the tie member.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention may briefly be described as comprising a wall tie member of steel wire or rod or the like for tying together the spaced sections of a cavity wall. The tie is bent to provide end portions adapted to be inserted between courses of the wall sections. A central portion connecting the end portions and extending between the wall sections, and thus exposed in the wall cavity, is bent to form a bight of such shape as to have two outer bearing points spaced apart the distance between the wall sections, so as to bear upon and space the same. The bight is so formed as to have a central point lower than the remainder thereof when the tie is disposed in its operative position, so that moisture may flow downwardly along the exposed portion of the tie and drip off this low point. In addition, the bight is provided with a pair of inner bearing points above the outer bearing points and directed oppositely thereto, and accordingly directed toward each other. These inner bearing points, together with the inside of the bend or curve forming the low point, serve to hold in proper upright position between the wall sections a trough, preferably of substantially V-shaped section, for catching mortar which drops into the wall cavity. The open top of the trough is of a width slightly smaller than the distance between the wall sections, so that it may readily be moved vertically in the wall cavity. Any suitable means may be provided for raising the trough when desired, a pair of wire elements loosely strung through apertures in the trough bottom being illustrated in the present instance, their lower ends being bent for engagement beneath the trough when drawn upwardly.

Cavity walls, which comprise two spaced parallel wall sections, usually of brick, have many advantages from the structural standpoint and are becoming increasingly common. Their use, however, requires overcoming of some ditficulties. For maximum strength and stability, the wall sections must be tied together at suitable intervals. The ties heretofore used have been simply lengths of steel rod or wire with the end portions bent in opposite directions to provide wings for disposition between the wall courses. While these initially tie the wall sections well enough, they are objectionable in that the exposed portions in the wall cavity are readily attacked by rust and corrosion and weakened or even destroyed thereby so that they fail after a relatively short time. The rusting and corrosion result from the condensation of moisture on the ties, and dissolved or suspended lime or other components of the mortar or cement. The present invention remedies this by forming the tie members with a low point from which the moisture may drip practically as it condenses, the exposed portion of each tie being so shaped as to provide a downward path to facilitate flow of moisture to the low point.

Another difficulty arises from the unavoidable dropping of mortar into the cavity during construction of the wall. Such mortar may form bridges between the wall sections which permit passage of moisture from the outer to the inner sections, thus minimizing one advantage of "ice this type of wall. Again, in some cases apertures are provided at the bottom of the wall, and these may become blocked by accumulations of dropped mortar. To prevent mortar dropping into the cavity, a trough is provided which is disposed below the course which the mason is laying and is supported by a plurality of the tie members of this invention, at its bottom and both sides, so that it is maintained in upright position. Mortar which drops into the trough will, of course, be carried out of the wall cavity when the trough is withdrawn, and in addition any gobs of mortar clinging to either of the wall sections will be scraped oil as it is drawn up. Thus both the cavity and the interior wall surfaces are left practically clean of any excess mortar.

Conventional tie members, it will be clear, are not adapted either to dispose of moisture or to support a trough upright, but there is another advantage in tie members of this invention, provided by the bearing points which serve to space the wall sections apart exactly the intended distance. To assure correct spacing of the wall sections, it is only necessary for the mason to align with the bricks bearing on these points of the tie the other bricks of the several courses. After completion of the wall, the ties maintain the wall sections in properly spaced relation against any tendency to approach each other which may be imparted to them by any cause. The tie members thus serve both as spacers and as guides or gauges for the mason, in addition to the other purposes they accomplish.

One object of the present invention is to provide a wall tie for the parallel sections of a cavity wall which is so shaped as to cause moisture deposited thereon to fiow oll' promptly, so as to avoid deterioration by rust and corrosion. Another object is the provision of a cavity wall section tie shaped to form a spacer portion for holding the wall sections in their desired spaced relation. A further object of the invention is to provide a cavity wall section tie which is adapted to support a mortar trough in upright position between the wall sections. It is also an object to provide a wall tie member for cavity walls which not only ties together the parallel wall sections but also holds them in properly spaced relation, serves to support a mortar trough between the wall sections during construction, and avoids deleterious accumulation of moisture on itself by providing a downward path for flow of moisture to a low point from which it will drop off. Still another object of the invention is the provision of a mortar trough and wall tie member cooperable to prevent accumulation of dropped mortar or the like between the wall sections of a cavity wall.

Other and further objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a cavity wall showing wall ties according to the present invention in position therein and supporting a cooperating mortar trough, parts being broken away for clearness;

Figure 2 is a perspective of the wall tie member;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the wall portion and the parts of the invention shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the trough may be lifted away from the wall ties which support it in the Figure l assembly; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-section showing the lower end of the trough and the means for lifting it in the manner shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 3, the reference numeral 10 designates generally the wall tie of this invention, formed of a suitable length of steel rod or the like. The central part of the rod is bent to form what for convenience may be designated a bight 11, connecting the inner ends of spaced end portions 12, which are substantially straight and aligned with each other. The end portions include wings 13 which extend from the outer ends of the side portions at right angles thereto but in opposite directions, and in a plane substantially normal to that of the bight 11. The bight is substantially symmetrical, each half being reversely curved and having the general shape of an S or a Z. More specifically, each half of the bight 11 extends inwardly and in a direction away from the inner end of its adjacent side portion 12 in a bend or curve, forming an inwardly directed bearing point 14 located inwardly of the side portion and ofiset therefrom m the plane of the bight. From each point 14 a portion 15 extends outwardly and in a direction away from the side portion 12 to an outer bearing point 16 provided by abend opposite to that forming the point 14. The two bearing points 16 are outwardly directed away from each other, while the bearing points 14 are inwardly directed toward each other. The distance between the points 16 is equal to the space which is to be maintained between the sections of the wall in which the tie is to be used. Portions 17 extend from the points 16 inwardly toward each other and in a direction away from the side portions 12, merging at the center of the bight in a bend which provides a point 18 directed away from the side portions 12. As evident from Figs. 1 and 2, the he 10 1s employed with the point 18 directed downward, andparticularly from Fig. 2 it will be clear that with the tie in this position each side or half of the bi ht 11 provldes an unbroken downward path from the side portions 12 to the point 18 along which moisture will flow to run or drop off the point 18. Of course, the exact shape of the bight may vary considerably from that shown and still provide the flow paths in an uninterruptedly downward direction.

In Ifigure 1 there is shown a portion of a cavity wall, comprislng the spaced wall sections S built of bricks B and mortar M. Ties 10 are disposed at intervals along each of the vertically spaced courses corresponding to the header or bonding courses of a solid wall. Only one such course is illustrated. The ties 10 are arranged to lie horizontally, bridging the s ace between the wall sections S, with the side portions 12 and wings 13 embedded in the mortar M. The bight 11 extends downwardly between the wall sections, with the outer bearing points 16 engaging against the interior surfaces of the sections, and maintaining proper spacing therebetween during construction and after com letion of the wall. It may be here pointed out that the bight 11 serves as a gauge for the mason, since it assures that the bricks against which it bears are properly spaced, and checks the spacing of the sections S every few courses for the entire length thereof without requiring any separate gauging or checking operation. The mason need only keep the rest of the wall sections aligned with the bricks and courses directly spaced by the ties 10 in order to have the entire wall vertical and properly spaced.

A mortar trough 19, of any desired length greater than the interval between two successive ties 10 in the wall, is provided for blocking the wall cavity. The trough 19 may be of any suitable material of sufiicient strength and rigidity, such as steel, and V-shaped in section as shown, or substantially so. The width of the open top of the trough is slightly smaller than the distance between the wall sections S, to avoid jamming in the wall cavity. The depth of the trough may vary considerably within practical limits. Wires 20 are provided which project through suitable apertures 21 in the bottom of the trough. The lower ends of the wires 20 are suitably bent to engage the trough bottom when they are move upwardly relative thereto, and the upper ends of the wires are bent to provide portions which may be readily grasped and which may be disposed on the top course of either wall section S, so as to suspend the wires therefrom.

When the first or lowest row of ties 10 is inserted in the wall, the trough 19 is disposed on two or more of the ties and is supported thereby between the wall sections S. The bottom of the trough rests on the inside of the bend forming the point 18, and the sides of the trough engage on the inner bearing points 14, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The trough is thus supported in upright position and held against tilting in the wall cavity. The wires 20 hang loosely by their bent upper ends from the top course of one of the wall sections. It will be evident that the trough 19 and the bight 11 of the tie are formed for cooperation with each other, the proportions of each being mutually selected with regard to those of the other so that the trough will engage in the bight to be supported at both sides as well as at the bottom. Although the three-point support of the trough is preferable, the trough may if desired be supported only by the points 14, with its bottom spaced above the bottom bend of the bight 11. When suspended in this manner, however, the trough is subject to tilting more readily than is desirable, as under the impact of mortar dropping into it.

With the trough in position on the ties 10, additional courses of the wall sections S are laid, the wires 20 being raised step by step as the work progresses, until the next bonding or tying course is reached. The wires 20 are then pulled upwardly to draw the trough out of the wall cavity and the mortar therein is removed. In its upward movement, the trough scrapes off any excess mortar clinging to the interior surfaces of the wall sections S. With the trough removed, another series of ties 10 is disposed along the top course as already described. The trough is then positioned on the ties as before, and the bricklaying resumed. Although only one trough is disclosed as employed with the ties 10, is should be obvious that any desired number of the troughs may be disposed end to end so as to protect any desired portion of the wall cavity at one time. Since the trough substantially blocks the wall caivty, no mortar, odd bits of broken brick, or other objects can fall to the bottom of the wall, and in addition, mortar which may have lodged on the inner wall surfaces above the trough is removed when the trough is drawn up, as well as any objects which may have been wedged between the wall sections. Thus the use of the trough results in a clean, trim job, without any accumulation of mortar at the bottom of the wall cavity or any bridges across the cavity which might conduct moisture to the inner wall section, and which the interior surfaces of the wall sections clear of any excess mortar.

From what has been disclosed, it will be seen that the present invention provides a wall tie for cavity walls which is protected against failure from rusting or corrosion, by reason of being so shaped as to shed moisture and thus avoid the primary cause of such failure. Of course, the tie may be made of non-rusting and/or corrosion-proof material, but such materials are either lacking in the required strength characteristics, too expensive for practicality, or difficult to form into the desired shape. The invention also provides a tie which serves as a spacer and gauge to assure proper spacing of the wall sections, as clearly explained above. The tie also is formed for cooperation with a suitable mortar trough to prevent undesirable mortar accumulations in the wall cavity, the tie providing a substantially tilt-preventing support for the trough. The trough similarly is formed and proportioned to cooperate with the tie so that it may be properly supported thereby. Of course, the tie may if desired be formed to achieve only one or some of the purposes set forth, or while formed substantially as disclosed to achieve all of them, be employed for only one or some of those purposes. Many changes may be made from the embodiment of the invention which has been disclosed. For example, the invention does not require that the bight be symmetrical and the point 18 central, nor that the bight extend downward in a vertical plane when the tie is disposed in the wall. The designation of the bearing elements 14 and 16 as points is for convenience only, and it will be clear that they might be formed to provide a line contact with the trough, or even a substantial bearing surface therefor. Thus, the bight might be V-shaped, if it were not desired as a spacing element, or the point 18 might'be the bottom of a V-shaped portion for engaging the sides of the trough for a short distance upwardly from its bottom. Again, the outward bends might be formed adjacent the mouth of the bight, and

the inward bends more remote therefrom, for use with a trough having a relatively narrow lower portion.

Some of the modifications possible in the disclosed embodiment of the invention have been suggested in the description, and others will readily occur to those skilled in the art, but since such physical changes do not depart from the inventive concept disclosed, it is not intended that the invention be limited otherwise than as required by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wall tie for the spaced upwardly extending wall sections of a block masonry cavity wall, said wall tie being in the form of a rod comprising spaced horizontal outer end portions shaped to rest on wall courses of the respective spaced wall sections of a masonry cavity wall, horizontal portions which extend inwardly respectively from said outer end portions, downwardly bent portions connected respectively to the inner extremities of said horizontal inwardly extending portions, depending portions connected respectively to said bent portions and at their respective lower extremities being disposed downwardly and outwardly therefrom to provide outer bearing surfaces located below said outer end portions and spaced apart from one another a distance equal to the desired spacing between wall sections, and a portion interconnecting the lower extremities of the respective depending portions.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said portion interconnecting the respective lower extremities of said depending portions comprises legs which extend inwardly and downwardly from the respective lower extremities of said depending portions and which are interconnected at their lower ends to provide a drip point located between and lower than said outer bearing surfaces on the wall tie.

3. A wall tie for the spaced upwardly extending wall sections of a block masonry cavity wall, said wall tie being in the form of a rod comprising spaced horizontal outer end portions shaped to rest on wall courses of the respective wall sections, horizontal portions respectively interconnected with said end portions and respectively extending inwardly therefrom coplanar therewith, downwardly bent portions connected respectively to the inner extremities of said horizontal inwardly extending portions, said bent portions being bent downwardly at an angle greater than ninety degrees with respect to said horizontal inwardly extending portions, depending portions connected respectively to the lower ends of said bent portions and extending downwardly and outwardly there from, said depending downwardly and outwardly extending portions at their lower extremities being spaced outwardly from said bent portions and providing outer hearing surfaces located lower than said outer end portions and spaced apart from one another a distance equal to the desired spacing between wall sections, and a portion interconnecting the lower extremities of the respective depending downwardly and outwardly extending portions.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said portion which interconnects the respective lower extremities of the depending downwardly and outwardly extending portions comprises legs which extend inwardly and downwardly continuously from the respective lower extremities of the depending downwardly and outwardly extending portions and which are interconnected at their lower ends to provide a drip point located between and lower than said outer bearing surfaces of the wall tie.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said outer end portions terminate at their extremities in horizontal wings shaped to extend lengthwise of the wall sections when positioned thereon.

6. Apparatus for use in constructing spaced wall sections of a block masonry cavity wall comprising, in combination, a wall tie and an elongated mortar trough of V-shaped cross section, said wall tie including a rod having spaced horizontal outer end portions shaped to rest on the wall courses of the respective spaced wall sections of a block masonry cavity wall, horizontal portions extending inwardly respectively from said outer end portions connected respectively to the inner extremities of said horizontal inwardly extending portions forming a pair of registering inner bearing surfaces for supporting the V-shaped trough by engagement with opposed sides thereof, depending portions connected respectively to said bent portions and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom, said depending portions at their lower extremities being spaced outwardly from said bent portions to provide outer bearing surfaces located below said outer end portions and spaced apart from one another a distance equal to the desired spacing between wall sections, legs connected respectively to said lower extremities of said depending portions and extending inwardly and downwardly from said lower extremities thereof and interconnected with one another at their lower ends to provide an upright V configuration with the apex thereof forming a drip point located between and lower than said outer bearing surfaces on the wall tie, the angle between the sides of said V-shaped trough being substantially the same as the included angle between the inner bearing surfaces having its apex at the intersection of said legs so that the trough seats within said wall tie with its lower edge resting on the wall tie at the intersection of said legs and with the sides of said trough extending upwardly and outwardly from its lower edge into engagement with the registering inner bearing surfaces of said bent portions of the wall tie, the inner bearing surfaces on the bent portions supporting the sides of the trough to maintain the trough in an upright 6 position and prevent tilting of the trough under impact 0 mortar, the sides of said trough terminating with their upper outer edges spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between the outer bearing surfaces on the wall tie so that the trough is removable from the cavity, and means operatively connected to said trough for lifting the trough upwardly away from its seating engagement with the wall tie and through the cavity space.

7. Apparatus for use in constructing spaced wall sections of a block masonry cavity Wall comprising, in combination, a wall tie and an elongated mortar trough of V-shaped cross section, said wall tie including a rod having spaced horizontal end portions shaped to rest on wall courses of the respective wall sections of a block masonry cavity wall, said outer end portions terminating at their extremities in horizontal wings shaped to extend lengthwise of the wall sections when positioned thereon, horizontal portions respectively interconnected with said outer end portions and respectively extending inwardly therefrom coplanar therewith, downwardly bent portions connected respectively to the inner extremities of said horizontal inwardly extending portions forming registering inner bearing surfaces for supporting the trough by contact with opposed sides thereof, said bent portions being bent downwardly at an angle greater than with respect to said horizontal inwardly extending portions, depending portions connected respectively to the lower ends of said bent portions and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom, said depending downwardly and outwardly extending portions at their lower extremities being spaced outwardly from said bent portions and providing outer bearing surfaces located lower than said outer end portions and spaced apart from one another a distance equal to the desired spacing between the wall sections, legs connected respectively to said lower extremities of said depending downwardly and outwardly extnding portions and extending inwardly and downwardly therefrom and interconnected with one another at their lower ends to provide an upright V configuration with the apex forming a drip point located between and lower than said outer bearing surfaces on the wall tie, the angle between the sides of said V-shaped trough being substantially the same as the included angle between said inner bearing surfaces having its apex at the intersection of said legs so that the trough seats within the wall tie with its lower edge resting on the wall tie at the intersection of the legs and the sides of the trough extend upwardly and outwardly from said lower edge into engagement with the inner bearing surface on said bent portions of the wall tie, the sides of the trough extending above said bent portions and terminating with their upper edges spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between the outer bearing surfaces on the wall tie so that the trough is removable from the cavity, and means operatively connected to said trough for lifting the trough upwardly away from its seating engagement with the wall tie, said last-mentioned means including a horizontal outwardly extending portion shaped to rest on the uppermost course of one of said wall sections while the trough is seated on the Wall tie.

8. Apparatus for use in constructing spaced wall sections of a block masonry cavity wall comprising, in combination, a wall tie and an elongated mortar trough of V-shaped cross section, said wall tie including a rod having spaced outer end portions shaped to rest on wall courses of the respective wall sections of a block masonry cavity wall, horizontal portions respectively interconnected with said outer end portions and respectively extending inwardly therefrom coplanar therewith, downwardly bent portions connected respectively to the inner extremities of said horizontal inwardly extending portions forming inner registering bearing surfaces for supporting the mortar trough by contact with opposed sides thereof, depending portions connected respectively to the lower ends of said bent portions and extending downwardly therefrom, said depending portions at their lower extremities being spaced outwardly from said bent portions and providing outer bearing surfaces located lower than said outer end portions and spaced apart from one another a distance equal to the desired spacing between the wall sections, a portion interconnecting said lower extremities of said depending portions, said V-shaped trough being shaped to seat in said wall tie with its bottom edge resting on said wall tie portion which interconnects the lower extremities of said depending wall tie portions, said trough having spaced upstanding sides which extend upwardly from its bottom edge at an angle such that the opposed sides engage the inner bearing surfaces on said bent portions of the wall tie when the bottom rests on the connecting portion and which sides terminate at their upper edges above the level of said outer end portions of the Wall tie and spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between said outer bearing surfaces on the wall tie so that the trough is removable from the cavity, and means operatively connected to said trough for lifting the trough upwardly away from its seating engagement with the wall tie and through the cavity. 10

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 647,705 Rieseck Apr. 17, 1900 Keen et a1 Oct. 22, 1901 Myers Mar. 5, 1918 Doern July 2, 1918 Wilson Sept. 3, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Netherlands Oct. 16, 1922 Great Britain May 28, 1925 Great Britain of 1926 

